Museveni promotes Bobi Wine’s tormentor in major police changes
KAMPALA. President Yoweri Museveni has reinstated Senior Commissioner of Police (SCP) Frank Mwesigwa as the director of operations services (OPS) due to his actions during the 2020 presidential campaigns, which resulted in 54 fatalities.
Promoted to his current rank in 2022, Mwesigwa oversaw operations that led to the arrest of National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, on November 18, 2020, in Luuka district, Busoga. Following Bobi Wine’s arrest, widespread protests erupted, prompting security forces to open fire on demonstrators across the country, leaving 54 dead and many others injured, as reported by the police.
Since the 2020 incident, Mwesigwa has held the relatively low-profile position of deputy director of the Counter-Terrorism (CT) police, a unit focused on anti-terrorism efforts and protection of key figures and installations. His new role as OPS director is expected to bring him back into the public eye.
Mwesigwa replaces AIGP John Nuwagira, who has been reassigned to the Anti-Stock Theft Unit (ASTU). During his previous tenure as Kampala Metropolitan commander, Mwesigwa faced criticism for failing to prevent the assassinations of several prominent figures, including AIGP Andrew Felix Kaweesi and Maj Muhammad Kiggundu.
President Museveni’s recent police reorganization includes several new appointments. Abbas Byakagaba will head the Uganda Police Force, replacing retired Martins Okoth Ochola. AIGP Fadhir Kaali is the new director of fire and rescue services, succeeding retired AIGP Joseph Mugisa. SCP Charles Kataratambi is appointed director of legal services, taking over from retired AIGP Erasmus Twarahukwa, and SCP Hadijah Namutebi becomes director of welfare and production, replacing retired AIGP Charles Birungi.
Brig Gen Godfrey Golooba, previously director of human resource development, returns to the army, replaced by SCP Moses Kafeero, formerly commander of Bwebajja Police Command and Staff College. Other notable appointments include SCP David Waiswa as head of counter-terrorism, replacing Byakagaba, and SCP Ubaldo Bamunoba as chief political commissariat, succeeding SCP Namutebi.
President Museveni has also indicated plans to eliminate the position of chief of joint staff in the police force, currently held by Maj Gen Abel Kandiho, due to its perceived redundancy.
